Method and user node for reception of a TV service

Abstract

A method and a user node for enabling reception of a TV service. The user node operates in a first reception mode of receiving the TV service as signals broadcasted over the air and in a second reception mode of receiving the TV service as a media stream over an Internet Protocol Television, IPTV, link The user node monitors quality of the broadcasted signals when receiving the TV service in the first reception mode. The user node switches operation from the first reception mode to the second reception mode responsive to the monitored quality of the broadcasted signals being below a first threshold. Thereafter, the user node receives the TV service over the IPTV link in the second reception mode. The TV service can be properly received and played out with satisfying user experience irrespective of the broadcasted signals over the air not reaching the user node with sufficient quality.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method in a user node for enabling reception of a television (TV) service, the user node capable of operating in a first reception mode of receiving the TV service as over-the-air broadcasted signals and in a second reception mode of receiving the TV service as a media stream over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) link, the method comprising:
 monitoring quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals when receiving the TV service in the first reception mode, 
 controlling the user node to switch operation from presently operating in the first reception mode to next operating in the second reception mode responsive to the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals being below a first threshold (TH 1 ) for a first time interval, 
 receiving the TV service over the IPTV link in the second reception mode for a second time interval, and 
 further controlling the user node to switch operation from presently operating in the second reception mode back to operating in the first reception mode responsive to the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals being above a second threshold (TH 2 ) for a third time interval, 
 wherein the first time interval and the third time interval are adjusted by the user node based on a determined amount of fluctuations in the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second thresholds is adjustable based on the amount of fluctuations of the monitored quality. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein switching the operation from the first reception mode to the second reception mode comprises establishing an IPTV session to receive a TV channel that the user node is tuned to when receiving the TV service in the first reception mode. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein signals received over the IPTV link in the second reception mode comprise a lower resolution than the over-the-air broadcasted signals. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 tuning, prior to switching from the second reception mode to the first reception mode, a receiving unit associated with the first reception mode to receive a TV channel that the user node is tuned to when receiving the TV service in the second reception mode. 
 
     
     
       7. A user node configured to enable reception of a TV service, the user node being adapted to operate in a first reception mode of receiving the TV service as over-the-air broadcasted signals and in a second reception mode of receiving the TV service as a media stream over an Internet Protocol Television, IPTV, link, the user node comprising:
 a first receiving unit adapted to receive the TV service in the first reception mode from an antenna; 
 a second receiving unit adapted to receive the TV service in the second reception mode from an IPTV server; 
 at least one processor; and 
 memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: 
 monitoring quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals when receiving the TV service in the first reception mode, 
 switching from operating in the first reception mode to operating in the second reception mode responsive to the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals being below a first threshold for a first time interval, 
 receiving the TV service over the IPTV link in the second reception mode for a second time interval, and 
 switching from operating in the second reception mode back to operating in the first reception mode responsive to the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals being above a second threshold (TH 2 ) for a third time interval, 
 wherein the first time interval and the third time interval are adjusted by the processor based on an determined amount of fluctuations in the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals. 
 
     
     
       8. The user node according to  claim 7 , wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold. 
     
     
       9. The user node according to  claim 7 , wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 adjusting at least one of the first and second thresholds based on the amount of fluctuations of the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals. 
 
     
     
       10. The user node according to  claim 7 , wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 establishing, when the operation is switched from the first reception mode to the second reception mode, an IPTV session to receive a TV channel that the user node is tuned to when receiving the TV service in the first reception mode. 
 
     
     
       11. The user node according to  claim 7 , wherein the signals received in the second reception mode comprise a lower resolution than the over-the-air broadcasted signals. 
     
     
       12. The user node according to  claim 7 , wherein the memory stores further executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 tuning, prior to switching from the second reception mode to the first reception mode, the first receiving unit to receive a TV channel that the user node is tuned to when receiving the TV service in the second reception mode. 
 
     
     
       13. A method in a user node for enabling reception of a television (TV) service, the user node capable of operating in a first reception mode of receiving the TV service as over-the-air broadcasted signals and in a second reception mode of receiving the TV service as a media stream over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) link, the method comprising:
 monitoring quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals when receiving the TV service in the first reception mode, 
 determining an amount of variations in the quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signal; 
 selecting a first time interval and a second time interval based on the amount of variations; 
 switching operation from presently operating in the first reception mode to next operating in the second reception mode responsive to the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals being below a first threshold (TH 1 ) for the first time interval; and 
 switching operation from presently operating in the second reception mode back to operating in the first reception mode responsive to the monitored quality of the over-the-air broadcasted signals being above a second threshold (TH 2 ) for the second time interval. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 selecting at least one of the first and second thresholds based on the amount of variations in the quality. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second time interval is longer than the first time interval. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold.